प्रदर्शनी (pradarshnii)

noun A single-sense noun meaning 'exhibition' or 'display' -- the kind of event you visit, like an art show or trade fair.
Sense 1 : exhibition, display (event)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: प्रदर्शन (pradarshan, broader sense: display/demonstration, not always an event), नुमाइश (numaaish)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will see this word on banners outside Pragati Maidan or India Gate lawns during Delhi's book fairs and art shows -- पुस्तक प्रदर्शनी (pustak pradarshnii, 'book exhibition') is a very common compound. It shares a root with प्रदर्शन (pradarshan, 'display/performance') and दिखाना (dikhaanaa, 'to show'), all built around the idea of something being made visible.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse प्रदर्शनी (pradarshnii) with प्रदर्शन (pradarshan) -- the latter can mean 'protest' or 'performance/demonstration' depending on context, while प्रदर्शनी (pradarshnii) specifically refers to an exhibition-type event you attend. 2) The verb usually paired with it is लगना (lagnaa) or लगाना (lagaanaa) -- as in प्रदर्शनी लगी है (pradarshnii lagii hai, 'an exhibition is on/set up') -- rather than होना (honaa) alone.
Sample Sentences:
प्रगति मैदान में इस हफ्ते पुस्तक प्रदर्शनी लगी है। There is a book exhibition at Pragati Maidan this week.
(pragti maidaan men is haphte pustak pradarshnii lagii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
हम पिछले रविवार को कला प्रदर्शनी देखने गए थे। We had gone to see an art exhibition last Sunday.
(ham pichhle ravivaar ko kalaa pradarshnii dekhne gae the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगले महीने यहाँ एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय व्यापार प्रदर्शनी होगी। There will be an international trade exhibition here next month.
(agle mahiine yahaan ek antarraashtriiy vyaapaar pradarshnii hogii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम कल शाम को प्रदर्शनी में चलोगे? Will you come along to the exhibition tomorrow evening?
(kyaa tum kal shaam ko pradarshnii men chaloge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
प्रदर्शनी का उद्घाटन मुख्यमंत्री द्वारा किया जाएगा। The exhibition will be inaugurated by the chief minister.
(pradarshnii kaa udghaatan mukhymantrii dvaaraa kiyaa jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
हर साल दिसंबर में यहाँ हस्तशिल्प प्रदर्शनी आयोजित की जाती है। A handicrafts exhibition is organized here every December.
(har saal disambar men yahaan hastshilp pradarshnii aayojit kii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
काश हम भी उस फोटोग्राफी प्रदर्शनी में जा पाते। If only we too could have gone to that photography exhibition.
(kaash ham bhii us photograaphii pradarshnii men jaa paate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वक्त होता तो मैं प्रदर्शनी में जरूर जाता। If I had had time, I would definitely have gone to the exhibition.
(agar vakt hotaa to main pradarshnii men jaroor jaataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
प्रदर्शनी में घुसते ही सामने विशाल पेंटिंग नज़र आई। As soon as we entered the exhibition, a huge painting appeared before us.
(pradarshnii men ghuste hii saamne vishaal penting nazar aaii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया प्रदर्शनी परिसर में मोबाइल फोन बंद रखें। Please keep your mobile phones switched off inside the exhibition premises.
(kripyaa pradarshnii parisar men mobaail phon band rakhen।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): प्रदर्शनी (pradarshnii)
(sg.f.oblique): प्रदर्शनी (pradarshnii)
(pl.f.direct): प्रदर्शनियाँ (pradarshniyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): प्रदर्शनियों (pradarshniyon)